Per Mertesacker insists Arsenal cannot allow themselves to be distracted by talk of Alexis Sanchez’s exit even if the Chilean brings an “X-factor” to the side.
Sanchez is due to return to training at London Colney on Tuesday after having his post-Confederations Cup break extended to allow him to recover from flu.
With just a year to go on his contract Sanchez faces an uncertain future, despite manager Arsene Wenger’s insistence that Arsenal will not sell last season’s top goalscorer.
Manchester City are leading the chase for Sanchez but Arsenal are particularly reluctant to do business with a Premier League rival even if it means losing their striker on a free in a year’s time.
If last season’s greatest distraction proved to be the debate over Wenger’s contract this year could be defined by Sanchez’s impending expiry. However Arsenal’s club captain insists his team-mates cannot allow another contractual saga to sidetrack them.
“We cannot concentrate just on one player, it doesn’t work,” said Mertesacker. “Everyone wants him to stay, he’s a player with the X-factor. In the last season he has played some incredible games and was our dominant goalscorer.
“But still, we’re not focusing as much on that. It’s another season and we have new signings that we’re trying to focus on.
In Pictures | Arsenal at Emirates Cup 2017
“Even with a back three and with a new line-up we have lots of work to do. To focus on just one player is not right.”
Doubts over Sanchez’s future haven’t stopped Arsenal from strengthening their attack this summer, with £52million spent on Alexandre Lacazette.
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The former Lyon striker scored his first goal at the Emirates Stadium in Sunday’s 2-1 friendly loss to Sevilla but Mertesacker warned Arsenal’s record signing that he faced a major challenge adapting to the Premier League.
“It’s a huge step for him,” Mertesacker said. “He has played well in France and has a good reputation for goalscoring but still…
“We’ll give him time to settle down, to find his way here. This team, we allow players to settle down. It takes time, it’s not easy. We’ll try to make him as comfortable as possible. But he needs to work hard.”